Our Explicit Improvement Agenda

Student Voice and Agency

Planning for Improved Student Learning

Celebrations of Community - Easter Raffle

Our Easter Raffle tickets will be on sale next week in the afternoon outside the welcome gate and drawn on Thursday 6 April at 2.45 pm in the Allen Hall. Please return ticket stubs (with contact details written on them) and money to the office by Tuesday 4 April.  We welcome parents to join us for our Easter liturgy in the morning and the drawing of the Easter Raffle in the afternoon.

Celebrations of Learning

MMPS News

In this week’s MMPS News Kate and Annabelle showcased our Student Voice and Agency in the Year 3 Level.  It was great to see the Year 3 students sharing what Harmony Day means to them.  Sensei shared her Japanese challenge for the week with videos of teachers saying good morning and goodbye in Japanese.  Well done to everyone for a great news segment showing how our students and teachers are building their student voice and agency.  We look forward to next week’s challenge where parents and carers will be sharing their Japanese greetings.

Harmony Display

Our Year 2 Harmony Day display of student learning in the Administration foyer looks amazing.  Year 2 students’ provided very insightful answers to the statement - Harmony Day means . . .

Student Learning Portfolios

The Term 1 Student Learning Portfolios will be distributed to families on Monday 3 April for your child to share their learning journey so far.  We encourage all parents to complete the feedback sheet and to return your child’s Portfolio in early Term 2 so they can continue recording their growth and achievements.  We thank you for working in partnership with us to support your child in their learning journey.

In this week’s newsletter we share learning from our Year 4 level, Japanese and Discovery Centre.  Happy reading . . .

Open Days/2024 Enrolments

Congratulations - Year 6 Student Leaders

Our warmest congratulations to our Year 6 Student Leaders on their outstanding leadership.  They carried out their leadership roles in an exemplary fashion this week for our Open Day Tours on Tuesday and today.  Families visiting to our school were so impressed with the pride they demonstrated in our school, their ability to articulate their learning, growth and all we offer as a school to ensure our students have voice and agency in their learning.  Well done and congratulations to our Year 6 student leaders!

2024 Student Enrolments

Enrolments are now open for Foundation 2024 and filling fast.  If you would like a guided tour by our Year 6 Student Leaders, please call the office 8794 5777 to arrange a time.  

Program Support Group (PSG) Meetings

Thank you to parents and students for attending the PSG meetings over the past two weeks. It is wonderful to witness our students articulating their learning in their PSG meetings and their growth over the term.  Well done to all students who participated in their PSG meetings over the past two weeks.

Reminders

Term 1 Student Learning Portfolios sent home Monday 3 April, 2023

Whole School Photo Day -  Wednesday 5 April, 2023

Last day of Term 1 - Thursday 6 April, 2023

Term 2 commences - Thursday 27 April, 2023

Term 2 Learning Foci: Design and Technologies / Science

Project Compassion brings together Australian schools, parishes and supporters to raise funds for people in vulnerable communities across the world. This year, we introduced you to the story of four inspiring people whose lives have been transformed with your generous support: Laxmi, Tereesa, Priscilla and Thu.

Today, they are creating a better world for their families, their communities and for all future generations.

Project Compassion is a demonstration of the faith, empathy and generosity of our supporters. It is the lifeblood of Caritas Australia – without it, we could not do the vital work we do. Thank you for helping transform lives today and for all future generations.

Please support Project Compassion: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Please support Project Compassion: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion 

Project Compassion boxes are located in each classroom for student donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Your support is greatly appreciated. Project Compassion donations will conclude next week.

ANZAC APPEAL

The Anzac Appeal raises funds to support former and serving members of the Australian Defence Forces and dependents when in need. Most of the funds are raised through RSL  Appeals with the sale of Anzac merchandise. The Berwick RSL has supplied a number of items for purchase. School leaders have visited each classroom to let students know of the Anzac merchandise available for purchase. Items range from $1 to $5. Items will be available for purchase next week.

Holy Week begins next week. Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum – the three days that follow the journey of Jesus from life to death to resurrection. The Stations of the Cross, also called Way of the Cross, portrays events in the Passion of Christ. Each grade will prayerfully commemorate Jesus’ journey. Parents and friends are invited to join us next Thursday 6th April, 9.00am in Allen Hall to pray the Stations of the Cross.

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, Cycle A

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, the day we begin the holiest week of the Church year.  During Holy Week, we remember the last days of Jesus’ life—his suffering and Death on the Cross.

Sunday’s Gospel tells the events of Jesus’ suffering and Death. We can remember that Jesus loved us so much that he freely died for us. His great sacrifice saved us from our sins and gave us new life. Remember that Jesus’ Death on the Cross is not the end of the story. During the week later at Easter, we will celebrate his Resurrection, when God the Father raised him from the dead

OLHC Parish

Our Lady Help of Christians Parish Information

Mary MacKillop Primary School is one of the three Parish Primary Schools belonging to the Parish of Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren within the Diocese of Sale. Fr Brendan Hogan is our Parish Priest and Fr Ajin Albarnas is our Assistant Priest. We are grateful for their ongoing prayers, involvement and support of the students, families and staff of Mary MacKillop School. 

PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2023

First Reconciliation

Congratulations to the following students who celebrated the reception of First Reconciliation on Wednesday 29th March- Liana, Caleb, Madeline and Lucas. May you all know the greatness of God's love and forgiveness on this special day. 

Click on the link to access a copy of the 2023 Sacrament Program Booklet

https://www.olhc.org.au/parish-sacrament-program/

PARISH BULLETIN - Click on the link below to download the weekly newsletter.

https://www.olhc.org.au/parish-bulletin/

The Year 4’s did an amazing job this term of learning about the scripture passage from Matthew 4:1-11, The Temptation of Jesus in Religious Education. They were able to identify the sacrifices that Jesus made by fasting in the desert for 40 days, and came to realise that Jesus was also tempted in his life. It was great to see the students making this connection with Jesus and their own lives and how they also face many temptations and challenges. The students also discussed how the scripture inspired them to be better people because of the sacrifices that Jesus made.

As part of Inquiry, the Year 4’s have also begun learning about the three levels of government, namely Federal, State and Local. In particular, they are learning about the City of Casey and its role in the community, including many of the services it provides.

こんにちは、

We are inviting parents and carers to participate in next week’s Japanese Phrase of the Term Challenge video featured on MMPS News.

Greetings we are using this term are: 

Ohayō - Good morning

Konnichiwa - Hello

Sayōnara - Good bye

Mata,ne! - See you later!

Sensei will be taking videos before school Monday and Tuesday next week. Alternatively, please feel free to email her a video at cstapledon@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au 

In Discovery Centre, Junior students are investigating the different parts of a computer. They looked at hardware components including the keyboard, monitor and trackpad  Junior students drew what they imagined the inside of a computer would look like and then compared their drawings to a real computer.

Child Safe Standards

Our school is safe, student centred and animated by our school values.  

We aim to Inspire Hearts and Minds.

"Children are the future of the human family: all of us are expected to promote their growth, health and tranquillity." Pope Francis 2021

At Mary MacKillop Primary School, we believe that ensuring the safety of the students in our care is an integral part of who we are as a Catholic faith community. We adhere to Victorian Child Safe Standards and Ministerial Order No. 1359.  We embed a culture of child safety and the matter is taken very seriously.

MMPS Child Safe Standards

Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV)

The updated CECV Statement of Commitment to Child Safety - A safe, nurturing and empowering culture for all children and young people in Catholic schools, is attached to this newsletter.  This statement has been updated in light of the revised Child Safe Standards coming into effect from 1 July 2022 and the supporting Ministerial Order No. 1359